Vacuum attachment fixture



April 7, 1953 w. VAN DusEN 2,634,077

VACUUM ATTACHMENT FIXTURE l I Filed Nov. 28, 1949 naea/cf d V/:w 0096,

INVENTOR.

BY wfvw Patented Apr. 7, 1953 uni-reo: stares rar snr or FICE.

VACUUM ATTACHMENT FIIXTURE LarureiicezWa-`Van Dilsen, Escondido; Calif., as-

signor, to Van yDilsen Engineering .Company, Escondido,..Calif., a copartnership Application-November 28, 1949,.S1ia1"N.L129345 Thiseinrention'relates-tof'vacuumfattachment devricesand` is particularlydirected to :improvements;over.A .the :formant vacuum: fixture disclosed nem-yrcopendingfapplication, SerialvNo'. 103,970, led July-11, 1949;.,

It -Swthe rprincipal :ob-ject of 'this invention to providefvacunm `attachmentdevioes of universal application: which can.: be usedL- for' supporting articles anchdevices vwithout requiring any special supporting.` clips; onwithout requiring that any holes be `drilled through metal.V

Itisfanotheri objectl to provide a vacuum attachment-device `employing' the: principle of'iop erationl .set-- forth .insaid' cop'endingapplication but embodying anouter clamping member which isgforniedofga material* suitable. for the reception of lwood screws:

Another object iszlzto provide. a: vacuum attachment device-employing.' a rubber-'like diaphragm on suction member; Vthe; suction r member being held in operative position by means of an annular metallicv shelllandy the shell in turn being clamped bygmeans of awcentral nonmetallic: disk adapted 11o-provide amounting;v for awvariety ofcsupported articles and devices.V

Another object is toriprovide .ai device` of this type infwhich: the inner portioniof thefannu-l-ar shell', overliesfV therouter 'periphery of af metallic plate imbedded within:v thef rubber-like dia- Dhlagm., Y

rAnother objectofvthisfinvention isfto pron vide aradevicle: of' this type'in which all` of the mechanicalzparts"requiredzto: create .the vacuum space-:within the peripheryof the suction cup 'are confined iwithnrthe-shell andzbene'ath the nonmetalli'c' disk` so i that 'i a substantial unobstructed flat?y surfacefareat is available` for: vattaching al varietyfof appliances.

Another object is to provide-a vacuum attach'- ment'deviceofthis typeA wherein the disk has an outer lip overlapping the inner portion of the annular shell.' Otherobjects and advantages will appear more fully, hereinafter.

In' thedrawings Figurer 1A is a side. elevation .partly broken away showing a towel-.rackand supports, therefor, theV latter comprising a preferred embodiment ofv inyinvention.

Figure 2 is anielevationyiew partlynbroken away showing oney of the`A vacuum attachment supports;

Figure'is a sectional plan view taken substantially/on'thellines .3f- 3 as shown linfFigure l.

Figureviisa sectional view-similar 'to' Figurer 8 Claims;r (01; 2484-206) 2 Y showing amodined form of apparatus fembodyin my invention.

Referring to thedrawings, the wall* I0 having an impervious surface II is used -Aas a` supporting surface for vthe vacuum attachment device :gen-v erally designated I2. The device includesa rub= ber-like diaphragm or suction cup I3 having 'a peripheral contact lip IIIl provided with'a groove I5. VAn annular shell I6 `has an outer rim I'I which is received within the groove I5'.` The shell I6 has an inner rim I8 which overliesthe outer periphery i9 of the metallicplate 20 which is imbedded within the rubber-like'diaphragm I3 and bonded thereto. Aninternally threaded metallic element `2l is secured centrally7 of the plate 2!! by any convenient meansV suchas;v for example, by welding, anda tensiony screw 22" is threaded into this element 2`I. A disk 23 has `a central aperture24 through which the tension screw 22 extends. A metallic washer 25rests on the disk 23 and engages the head portion 25? of the screw 22. Aperipheral lip 2T provided on the disk 23 overlies the innerrim I8 of the metal# lic shell IB.Y

When it is desired to mount the'vacuum attachment device I2 on the wall I t, thedisk23 and shell' IB are removed from the diaphragm I3-b'y disconnecting the screw 22. The inner surface 28 ofthe diaphragm I3 is moistened if@ desired andthe diaphragm is then pushed flat against the surface of the wall II so that substantially all of the air is extracted between the surfaces II and 28. The annular metallic shell I5 is then installed'with its outer lip I1' in the grooveV I5 and the nonmetallic disk 23 is then installed over the shell I6 so that the lip 21 overlies the rim I8. The screw 22 is then inserted through the washer 25,` and a screw driver (not shown) is used to Vturn the screw relative to the metallic threaded element 2I. This action serves to create a vacuum space 29 between the surfaces II and28 and to apply sealing force against the peripheral contact lip I4 of the diaphragm" I3. That portion ofthe contact lip which lies under the outer rim I'I is subjected to relatively high compressive forces, thereby effectively preventing entrance of air into thev vacuum space 29'; Furthermore, since the outer vdiameter of the metallic plate 20 isigreater than the inner diam*- eter ofthe metallic disk I6, the material ofthe diaphragm I3 which is confined between the plate 20 and shell I5 in the region identified ast!)- is also subjected to high compressive'stresses with the result that air is prevented from leaking in wardly through this zonel of compression. From this description it will be understood that in order for atmospheric air to reach the vacuum space 29 from the outer exposed side of the wall lil, atmospheric air must pass through a zone of compression adjacent the metallic lip I1 or through a similar zone of compression adjacent the outer periphery IS of the plate 2|). In effect these two compression zones serve as concentric leakproof gaskets to prevent entrance of air into the vacuum space 29. These gaskets are located adjacent the inner and outer diameters of the metallic shell I6 which is itself impervious to the passage of air under atmospheric pressure.

The disk 23 may be formed of any material suitable for the reception of wood screws, and

I have found that plywood is admirably suited for this use. Wood screws 3l may be used to attach any desired device or article, and it is unnecessary to drill any matching holes or attach any special brackets for mounting such articles and devices on the vacuum attachment device. As shown in the drawings, a towel rack assembly including a bar 32 and brackets 33 are mounted on the vacuum attachment device l2.

Each of the brackets 33 may be provided with the usual mounting flange 34 and the wood screws 3| extend through openings provided in the flange. It will be understood that the towel rack assembly is shown for illustrative purposes only, and many other types of devices may be supported on the disk 23 in a similar manner. For example, such household articles as can openers, ice Crushers, pencil Sharpeners, soap dispensers, towel dispensers, may be conveniently supported on impervious surfaces such as provided by metal cabinets, porcelain or tile surfaces or the like. The mounting provided by this vacuum attachment may be quickly applied without requiring any holes to be drilled, and the surface of the metal, tile, glass, porcelain or other support is not marred by screws, nuts or bolts.

While I .have shown and described my improved device in connection with a circular suction cup, it will be understood that the cup may be made in oval shape or even in a square or rectangular shape as desired, and that the cooperating parts of the device are shaped in a similar manner.

In the modified form of my invention shown in Figure 4 the underside 40 of the nonmetallic disk 23a is formed substantially flat and the inner periphery of Ithe shell Ia is provided with a fiat annular portion M instead of the rim i8. The disk 23a overlaps the flat annular area il! and the disk is centered relative to the shell i60. by means of central screw 22a. The mode of operation of this form of my invention is substantially the same as that described above.

Having fully described my invention, it is to be understood that I do not wish to be limited to the details herein set forth, but my invention is of the full scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

l. A suction-type fastener comprising in combination: a resilient suction cup, a nonresilient shell closely conforming to the shape of the suction cup and having a central opening defining a continuous inner rim and a continuous outer rim adapted to compress a portion of the suction cup against a mounting surface, a nonresilient plate having its outer periphery embedded within. a portion of the suction cup, the plate being larger than the central opening and confronting said opening, a threaded nonresilient element fixed to the nonresilient plate and protruding from the back face of the suction cup, a central nonmetallic member overlying the inner rim on the nonresilient shell and being provided with a central aperture, said nonmetallic member having a mounting face adapted to receive screw fastener elements, a screw element extending through the aperture in the member and into threaded engagement with said threaded element, the said inner rim of the shell lying near the outer periphery of the plate so that turning of the screw element serves to secure the non-metallic member on the shell and to clamp a continuous, relatively narrow zone of the suction cup under compression between the plate and the shell.

2. A suction-type fastener comprising in combination: a resilient circular suction cup, a nonresilient annular shell closely conforming to the shape of the suction cup and having a central opening defining an inner peripheral rim and a continuous outer peripheral rim adapted to compress a peripheral portion of the suction cup against a mounting surface, a nonresilient circular plate having its outer periphery embedded within a central portion of the suction cup, the plate being larger in diameter than said opening and confronting said opening, an internally threaded nonresilient element xed to the nonresilient plate and protruding from the back face of the suction cup, a circular nonmetallic disk overlying the inner peripheral rim on the nonresilient annular shell and being provided with a central aperture, a screw extending through the disk aperture into threaded engagement with said internally threaded element, the said inner rim of the shell lying near the outer periphery of the plate so that turning of the screw serves to secure the non-metallic disk on the shell and to clamp a continuous, relatively narrow and annular zone of the suction cup under compression between the plate and the shell.

3. A suction-type fastener comprising in combination: a resilient suction cup, a relatively thin nonresilient annular shell closely conforming to the shape of the suction cup and having a central opening defining an inner peripheral rim and a continuous outer peripheral rim adapted to compress a peripheral portion of the suction cup against a mounting surface, a nonresilient plate having its outer periphery embedded within a central portion of the suction cup,

the plate being slightly larger in size than theV opening and confronting said opening, a threaded nonresilient element fixed to the nonresilient plate and protruding from the back face of the suction cup, a relatively thick nonmetallic disk having a peripheral lip overlying the inner rim on the nonresilient shell and being provided with a central aperture, a screw element extending through the disk aperture into threaded engagement with said threaded element, the said inner rim of the shell lying near the outer periphery of the plate so that turning of the screw element serves to clamp a continuous, relatively narrow and annular zone of the suction cup under compression between the plate and the shell and further serves to secure the disk on the shell.

4. In a vacuum attachment xture, the corn.- bination of a resilient suction cup having a nonresilient element xed centrally thereto and extending over a substantial portion of the area thereof and having its outer periphery imbedded in the suction cup, a nonresilient annular shell having a continuous outer rim engaging the outer rim of the suction cup, the shell having an inner rim overlying the outer periphery of said nonresilient element-l to confine a continuous, relatively narrow and annular zone of lthe suction cup therebetween, a central disk formed of wood overlying the inner rim of said shell and having a central aperture, and mechanical means extending through the central aperture of the disk operatively connecting the nonresilient element with the disk for moving the central portion of the suction cup in a direction to produce a vacuum space inwardly of its outer rim. 5` In a vacuum attachment fixture, the combination of a resilient suction cup having a nonresilient element xed centrally thereto and extending overa substantial portion of the area thereof and having its outer periphery imbedded in .the suction cup, a relatively thin annular metal shell having a continuous outer rim engaging the outer rim of the suction cup, the shell l having an inner rim overlying the outer periphery of said nonresilient element .to confine a continuous, relatively narrow and annular zone of the suction cup therebetween, a relatively thick circular disk overlying the inner rim of said shell and having a central aperture, and mechanical means extending through the central aperture of the disk operatively connecting the nonresilient element with the disk for moving the central portion of the suction cup in a direction to produce a vacuum space inwardly of its outer rim.

6. A suction-type fastener comprising in combination: a rubber suction cup, a metallic annular shell closely conforming to the shape of the suction cup and having a continuous outer peripheral portion adapted to compress a peripheral lip of the suction cup against a mounting surface, a metallic plate bonded to the cen- -tral portion of the suction cup and having its Y outer periphery embedded within a part of the suction cup, the metallic shell having an inner rim overlying the outer periphery of the plate, an internally threaded socket element xed to the plate and protruding from the back face of the suction cup, a central wood disk overlying the inner rim of the metallic shell and being provided with a central aperture, a screw extending through the disk aperture into threaded engagement with said internally threaded socket element, the said inner rim of the shell lying near the outer periphery of the plate so that turning of the screw clamps a continuous, relatively narrow and annular zone of the suction cup under compression between the plate and the shell and secures the disk to the plate.

7. A suction-type fastener comprising in combination: a resilient suction cup, a relatively thin nonresilient annular shell closely conforming to the shape of the suction cup and having a, continuous outer peripheral rim adapted to compress a peripheral portion of the suction cup against a mounting surface, a nonresilient plate having its outer periphery embedded within a central portion of the suction cup, a threaded nonresilient element xed to the nonresilient plate and protruding from the back face of the suction cup, the annular shell having a iiat annular ange adjacent its inner periphery overlying the outer periphery of rthe non-resilient plate, a relatively thick nonmetallic disk having a substantially flat inner surface overlying said annular flange on the shell and being provided with a central aperture, a screw element extending through the disk aperture into threaded engagement with said threaded element, the said inner annular flange on the shell lying lnear the outer periphery of the plate so that turning of the screw element serves to clamp a continuous, relatively narrow and annular zone of the suction cup under compression between the plate and the shell and further serves to secure the disk on the shell.

8. A vacuum attachment xture as dened in claim 5, wherein the mechanical means includes a flat-headed screw countersunk into the disk so that the outer face of the head is flush with the outer surface of the disk.

LAURENCE W. VAN DUSEN.`

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,119,177 Krait Dec. 1, 1914 2,028,640 Zaiger Jan. 21, 1936 2,047,658 Zaiger July 14, 1936 2,233,870 Muter Mar. 4, 1941 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 3,660 Great Britain Feb. 15, 1910 470,723 Great Britain Aug. 20, 1937 651,820 Germany Oct. 20, 1937 

